• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

UPS Thieves

Hardholder439

Private
Minuteman
Jun 12, 2022
85
159
Oregon
Hi guys and gals:

In the past year I've read at least 3 articles on excessive thefts/ disappearances of guns, ammo and components of all things firearms related. Sorry I don't have the links.

Well, I'm 99.9% sure a custom $6300 benchrest rifle was just stolen from me. It was built by Lester Bruno of https://www.brunoshooters.com/ Label was created 2/21. Tracking said I would receive the package Sat. 2/25. When the rifle did not arrive, I checked the tracking data. It was received by the Lathrop CA distribution center 4 days earlier. It never left. It suddenly disappeared from the UPS website. "I'll be notified of the delivery date when available." I reported the rifle stolen to Brunos on Monday the 27th. Their UPS rep blew smoke up their ass. IMHO a criminal UPS supervisor manually altered the data to show the package had left Lathrop that Monday only after the rifle was reported stolen. If it was a legit scan, the UPS computer would know what truck it was on, what city it was in and when it would arrive. Brunos confirmed the scan was manually entered today. I called Brunos on the UPS bullshit and criminal fraud. UPS magically opened an investigation which in MHO will result in nothing.

Should I call Lathrop police and demand they get a search warrant for the criminal UPS guy's home that entered a fraudulent scan. Should I also demand they subpoena his phone records to find out everyone he called within 10 minutes after he altered the records? That's where all the stolen merchandise would be. If I was a cop. I'd get the warrants.

To let UPS investigate themselves is like asking the criminal federal government to investigate the Biden crime family or release the docs which show the CIA had Kennedy killed.

Realistically, at this point what are my options other than make sure Brunos issues a full refund by Monday or provides the same custom rifle in less than a month. I've been waiting for this rifle since November. It probably won't do anything but I can't live with myself if I don't call the Lathrop cops tomorrow.

Thoughts, suggestions or anyone else that has had their toys disappear feel free to comment
 
You think the cops are going to do that???? Ive never had the police even interested in anything stolen, much less actually do anything. Dude, good luck with that.

I hate to hear you are having such trouble but your best bet is to work with ups and the seller. If you don't get a line on where this thing is pretty quickly, you can always call the atf and report it. That will definitely get all involved attention immediately. Others have had to do that and I think it generally works pretty well. Might want to make sure it isn't on the way before you go doing that and talk to the seller again though before you do. Others on here can advise you on the best way to get the atf to help
 
Insured? Please tell me it was insured. UPS will pay for lost shipments as long as you paid for the extra insurance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BLEE and hafejd30
I would think a stolen firearm would be a big deal...if the local PD does nothing, I would escalate it. The rifle is registered to you per ATF Form 4473. Call the nearest ATF to report that you want that 4473 canceled. You don't want that showing up in a crime and have it traced to you. When the ATF pops into the UPS center, all sorts of behavior changes
 
There’s not enough probable cause to get warrants for anything.

UPS is heavily unionized and their internal “investigators” have never been anything but an obstacle in my experience. They will NEVER turn over any investigative document to you or the police without a court order, but again, no PC.

Your best bet, if you don’t think they’re criminals themselves, is to notify the ATF or FBI of the situation and the facility from which the rifle vanished. They may already have an open case related to weapons going missing from that same place.

You may never get the gun back, so continue to pursue getting your money back from UPS or the seller, if it was properly insured…..
 
  • Like
Reactions: 308pirate
OP, You have ± zero chance of UPS fixing this issue on your own. This has nothing to do with the contents, and everything to do with how UPS works. The shipper paid money to UPS, and they are on the hook to deal with UPS. UPS will not deal with the recipient unless you are the client to them (ie opened the ticket and paid $$ directly to UPS).
 
Thanks for the replies. I think Bruno's has to wait for the UPS investigation to conclude or wait till Monday next week to report it to the ATF. I just felt the uncontrollable need to vent. It helped. I have zero patience for the "procedure" to play out.

I have no idea if it was fully insured. That is on Bruno's. They told me what shipping was. I paid it. Who knows? UPS may magically find it. If so, I'll admit to jumping the gun and apologize. I'll update as soon as any new info comes to light.
 
Thanks for the replies. I think Bruno's has to wait for the UPS investigation to conclude or wait till Monday next week to report it to the ATF. I just felt the uncontrollable need to vent. It helped. I have zero patience for the "procedure" to play out.

I have no idea if it was fully insured. That is on Bruno's. They told me what shipping was. I paid it. Who knows? UPS may magically find it. If so, I'll admit to jumping the gun and apologize. I'll update as soon as any new info comes to light.
If I really felt there was criminal activity I'd ATF involved right away.
 
It’s the shippers responsibility to insure packages they don’t want to pay to replace. I’d call your credit card company and let the shipper deal with UPS.

I love how everybody's first response is hey let's screw somebody else over because fuck everybody but me.

Don't be surprised if they just decide sure, we were going to work on it for you anyways and get it resolved for you, but since you want to be an ass about it, guess who were never selling to again.
 
Thats sucks. Hopefully you/ Brunos insured the package for the full amount. Everything I sell I insure on my dime just for this case. It sucks as a seller. You've done everything you can to get the buyer their goods, aside from hand delivering it, yet the buyer wants you to pay. Sucks for the buyer just as bad. You've bought something and expect it to make it to the house. A $6500, Id almost be inclined to go pick it up. Ive been lucky with all the hight dollar stuff Ive had shipped but Im getting more and more nervous about it these days with all this shit going on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TACC and Maggot
Your going to “demand” police get a search warrant for the supervisors house. Then “demand” they subpoena his phone records

Yeah good luck with that. I feel for you but you clearly have no idea how that works

At very least see if Bruno’s can get you a pic or similar pic and serial number. Post on here. Recently a stolen firearm was found on gun broker and police were notified and gun will be returned to owner.

You have a better chance with gun guys looking out for each other in this circumstance than relying on the police to try and find a lost package through ups
 
AFAIK, UPS is no longer even delivering to non FFL parties.
 
I love how everybody's first response is hey let's screw somebody else over because fuck everybody but me.

Don't be surprised if they just decide sure, we were going to work on it for you anyways and get it resolved for you, but since you want to be an ass about it, guess who were never selling to again.
What are you on? It’s the shipper’s responsibility. That’s how this works. Shipper will get 60 days to prove he delivered the merch if you charge it back with the CC company. It may light a fire under his ass to spent 100% effort to do what is right.
 
Hi guys and gals:

In the past year I've read at least 3 articles on excessive thefts/ disappearances of guns, ammo and components of all things firearms related. Sorry I don't have the links.

Well, I'm 99.9% sure a custom $6300 benchrest rifle was just stolen from me. It was built by Lester Bruno of https://www.brunoshooters.com/ Label was created 2/21. Tracking said I would receive the package Sat. 2/25. When the rifle did not arrive, I checked the tracking data. It was received by the Lathrop CA distribution center 4 days earlier. It never left. It suddenly disappeared from the UPS website. "I'll be notified of the delivery date when available." I reported the rifle stolen to Brunos on Monday the 27th. Their UPS rep blew smoke up their ass. IMHO a criminal UPS supervisor manually altered the data to show the package had left Lathrop that Monday only after the rifle was reported stolen. If it was a legit scan, the UPS computer would know what truck it was on, what city it was in and when it would arrive. Brunos confirmed the scan was manually entered today. I called Brunos on the UPS bullshit and criminal fraud. UPS magically opened an investigation which in MHO will result in nothing.

Should I call Lathrop police and demand they get a search warrant for the criminal UPS guy's home that entered a fraudulent scan. Should I also demand they subpoena his phone records to find out everyone he called within 10 minutes after he altered the records? That's where all the stolen merchandise would be. If I was a cop. I'd get the warrants.

To let UPS investigate themselves is like asking the criminal federal government to investigate the Biden crime family or release the docs which show the CIA had Kennedy killed.

Realistically, at this point what are my options other than make sure Brunos issues a full refund by Monday or provides the same custom rifle in less than a month. I've been waiting for this rifle since November. It probably won't do anything but I can't live with myself if I don't call the Lathrop cops tomorrow.

Thoughts, suggestions or anyone else that has had their toys disappear feel free to comment


I speak from experience here. There is a high declared value form that is filled out and brunos keeps a copy and the driver gets a copy. Ask brunos where that is and for a copy of ALL the documentation.

Call UPS and clearly articulate your reasons for suspecting that said firearm was stolen by an employee.

Then tell them that you will be personally going to the ATF branch regional headquarters with your documentation to let the ATF know that you have reason to believe that UPS has problems with employees stealing guns from that facility and are requesting an investigation.

That will get things moving.
 
I love all the I demand action posts.
A quick question for the OP if I may.
Did you send the parts to Bruno including the receiver to have them assembled or did you purchase a complete Rifle from Lester and he was shipping it to your FFL or maybe you are a FFL?
 
What are you on? It’s the shipper’s responsibility. That’s how this works. Shipper will get 60 days to prove he delivered the merch if you charge it back with the CC company. It may light a fire under his ass to spent 100% effort to do what is right.
This is spot on you as the receiver never took delivery.
The shipper is the victim here.
 
..... let the ATF know that you have reason to believe that UPS has problems with employees stealing guns from that facility and are requesting an investigation.
If that's true, OK. But, don't go embellishing anything if you talk to LE.
 
Last edited:
Id give it a couple days before getting Bidens team involved. You might end up with missing gun and dead dog. Shipping stuff gets jacked up all the time. Be patient.
 
What are you on? It’s the shipper’s responsibility. That’s how this works. Shipper will get 60 days to prove he delivered the merch if you charge it back with the CC company. It may light a fire under his ass to spent 100% effort to do what is right.

Spoken like an entitled "customer".

What you are talking about is being a true asshole.

If something gets misplaced in shipping, the correct thing to do is have the shipper start a trace for it with the carrier, see if it pops up after a week or two and then if the carrier determines the package is lost, then you discuss with the shipper if you want a refund or a replacement depending on the available options & go from there & get it all worked out as normal business. You would only actually dispute the charge with your credit card company if after a reasonable time for the carrier to trace the package and determine it is lost, the shipper doesn't want to do anything to resolve it.

Trying to be a raging Karen and filing a dispute with your credit card company is simply going to get the door slammed in your face for any help.
I'll bet half the time you probably lie and file false statements saying that wasn't you that made the charge or some such B.S.

Rather than "lighting a fire under their ass" it just makes 100% sure the seller never wants to deal with you ever again.
I do that all the time, any customer that acts like a raging asshole like that, their account is flagged and that's the end of ever getting any sales or support.

Both as the shipper or receiver, over the decades, I've been on both sides of the equation when a carrier lost or damaged a package and not being a raging asshole goes a long way towards getting things worked out.

You just you know have to have a bit of patience and courtesy and not be a flaming asshole.

But sure you be you.
 
I speak from experience here. There is a high declared value form that is filled out and brunos keeps a copy and the driver gets a copy. Ask brunos where that is and for a copy of ALL the documentation.

Call UPS and clearly articulate your reasons for suspecting that said firearm was stolen by an employee.

Then tell them that you will be personally going to the ATF branch regional headquarters with your documentation to let the ATF know that you have reason to believe that UPS has problems with employees stealing guns from that facility and are requesting an investigation.

That will get things moving.
Yup.... That will definitely get some action
 
As several folks have said this is between the shipper and UPS, you can’t file a claim at all..call you credit card company and start a dispute with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mewillis
IMG_3799.jpeg

UPS Workers are Teamsters.
Teamsters do not would not and have never stolen anything!
 
Last edited:
As several folks have said this is between the shipper and UPS, you can’t file a claim at all..call you credit card company and start a dispute with them.

Because what, waiting a week or two for the shipper to determine it is actually lost not simply missing for a few days (which happens all the time by the way) & then asking them nicely to give you a refund or replacement, would be what too hard to do?

You'd miss your chance to be a Karen & that really bothers you?
 
Because what, waiting a week or two for the shipper to determine it is actually lost not simply missing for a few days (which happens all the time by the way) & then asking them nicely to give you a refund or replacement, would be what too hard to do?

You'd miss your chance to be a Karen & that really bothers you?
The shipper should already be working on the refund or the replacement. Waiting a few weeks for something that might never happen is foolish. You have to protect yourself and don’t risk getting strung along by UPS or a vendor until the window to file a CC claim has closed. As mentioned already, the seller should get 60 days to figure it out and get the claim taken care of. That’s plenty of time and more than a few weeks for ups to sort it out.
 
The shipper should already be working on the refund or the replacement. Waiting a few weeks for something that might never happen is foolish. You have to protect yourself and don’t risk getting strung along by UPS or a vendor until the window to file a CC claim has closed. As mentioned already, the seller should get 60 days to figure it out and get the claim taken care of. That’s plenty of time and more than a few weeks for ups to sort it out.

Again you have no clue how things actually work other than let's be a raging asshole from the get go.
You have a huge long window to ask your credit card company for help if things can't be worked out eventually.

Filing a dispute the moment something is a bit late or missing in transit rather than waiting to see if it shows back up in a week or two, simply makes you an asshole and messes up the whole process and actually makes it much harder for the seller to resolve the matter for you.
It's a ton more paperwork and you then can't actually do any proper resolutions, you just have to wait for some indians somewhere to get around to it on their schedule.

But sure you are one of those entitled assholes that have zero patience and just want to screw everyone as fast and hard as you can.
You do you, in the end sure you'll get your money back the same way as if you were a decent person, but good luck getting the product even if the carrier finds it, the shipper will probably demand the package goes straight back to them and not get delivered and you can have your stupid money back and they'll deal with someone else next time who's not a raging asshole.

For example, the second to last time I ordered some electronics, it made it to the Fedex hub then vanished. Did I freak out and file some false or crazy claim with my credit card company? No, I contacted the seller, they asked me to wait for a bit over a week while the trace was being processed by the carrier to determine if it could be found, then I called back after the date they gave me and checked on it saw the trace closed, and they then promptly sent out a replacement.

Other times I ship something to someone and due to storms or sort issues or going on a wrong truck, it may not show any tracking for some time, so I tell the recipient that we'll file a trace and if it doesn't show back up in the next week or such we'll get it taken care of for them.

People like you are why we run a very strict zero tolerance policy at our company. You be a raging asshole one time, you do a credit card dispute one time, your account is terminated for good.
Plenty of decent, intelligent folks who understand how things go, no need to deal with an asshole ever again.
 
Wow! I have to offer my apologies to UPS and Bruno's. I just magically received an email from UPS saying my rifle will be delivered tomorrow. :oops: I'll believe it when it is delivered. When the shipper says your package is in a distribrution center for 7 days and has no proof it ever left one can only assume the worst. I was so depressed that I ordered a Colt Gold Cup Trophy in .45ACP to boost my spirits. When I posted I was sure I would never see this rifle. I've never been so happy to be wrong. Thanks again for all the replies.

Hold hard and shoot center. All the best.
 
Wow! I have to offer my apologies to UPS and Bruno's. I just magically received an email from UPS saying my rifle will be delivered tomorrow. :oops: I'll believe it when it is delivered. When the shipper says your package is in a distribrution center for 7 days and has no proof it ever left one can only assume the worst. I was so depressed that
I ordered a Colt Gold Cup Trophy in .45ACP
to boost my spirits. When I posted I was sure I would never see this rifle. I've never been so happy to be wrong. Thanks again for all the replies.

Hold hard and shoot center. All the best.
Nice piece. I'm thinking of getting one of the new Pythons. Handled one and the double action is not quite as smooth as my old one but single action...sweet.
 
Wow! I have to offer my apologies to UPS and Bruno's. I just magically received an email from UPS saying my rifle will be delivered tomorrow. :oops: I'll believe it when it is delivered. When the shipper says your package is in a distribrution center for 7 days and has no proof it ever left one can only assume the worst. I was so depressed that I ordered a Colt Gold Cup Trophy in .45ACP to boost my spirits. When I posted I was sure I would never see this rifle. I've never been so happy to be wrong. Thanks again for all the replies.

Hold hard and shoot center. All the best.
That's great I'm glad everything worked out.
With that said, it's not your rifle it's not your rifle until you've received it and signed for it.
 
Wow! I have to offer my apologies to UPS and Bruno's. I just magically received an email from UPS saying my rifle will be delivered tomorrow. :oops: I'll believe it when it is delivered. When the shipper says your package is in a distribrution center for 7 days and has no proof it ever left one can only assume the worst. I was so depressed that I ordered a Colt Gold Cup Trophy in .45ACP to boost my spirits. When I posted I was sure I would never see this rifle. I've never been so happy to be wrong. Thanks again for all the replies.

Hold hard and shoot center. All the best.
Patience is tough in cases like yours, I get it. Your mind immediately goes to the worst scenario, and nobody is ok with the thought of losing $6k+, and you lack the patience to let things work. I get it, i'm the same way. I want immediate solutions to problems because i'll dwell on them, and they eat me up waiting on others to act.

I'm glad it appears to have worked out, perhaps learn that the next time it happens, take a deep breath, and work the problem, without assuming the worst, until it's time to assume the worst.

Branden
 
UPS thefts are not new, why do you think they started the 2-day shipment requirement for handguns? Yes, they were losing way too many.

About 2 years ago, I ordered a new barrel blank. We were able to trace it to the local distribution center then it evaporated. Filed MULTIPLE claims with UPS, a useless waste of time which only raised my bloodpressure. Went to the vendor, they supplied a replacement. A full year later the original barrel showed up!

I was sure someone had 5-fingered it...
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: SONIC SAAMI
This is the exact reason I'm willing to drive 2-4 hours to buy items. It's not that I think everyone is a crook, it's my level of protection for the item I want to buy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gigamortis
Pretty typical of UPS (and Fed-Ex, and USPS) ever since the covid stuff started. I've had the exact same scenario mutliple times the past 3 years. If you're going to freak out about lapses in tracking, don't mail order stuff.
 
Love 'em or hate 'em, but...

Couple years ago I ordered a Aimpoint from Amazon. I'm not home when I get a text, "You package was delivered." Arrive home and nothing to be found. Pulled up Amazon chat and, "Hey, WTF?" Back and forth for a minute and the rep asks me to wait a bit. Several minutes later rep says my money has been refunded. Sure enough, two days later a credit shows up on my CC.

Later that day a neighbor several doors down rings the doorbell. "I think this might be yours." My address is 1234 and it was delivered to 1324. Contacted Amazon and explained the issue, "Oh, thank you. We'll just run the charge again." Still waiting.
 
Sorry Eddie but you are full of shit. I've never stolen anything in 21+ years at this job. Anytime I have a rifle or pistol I call the FFL to make sure that they'll be there to receive it....
Are there items stolen, yes. But not everyone is a fkn crook....
We had some POS dudes on the local sort out of Alb ripping off ammo, I got ahold of the fraud investigator and told them what was going on. They put a stop to it and those people were let go. There is no place for that BS in my opinion....people pay for their stuff and deserve to get their stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lightman
Sorry Eddie but you are full of shit. I've never stolen anything in 21+ years at this job. Anytime I have a rifle or pistol I call the FFL to make sure that they'll be there to receive it....
Are there items stolen, yes. But not everyone is a fkn crook....
We had some POS dudes on the local sort out of Alb ripping off ammo, I got ahold of the fraud investigator and told them what was going on. They put a stop to it and those people were let go. There is no place for that BS in my opinion....people pay for their stuff and deserve to get their stuff.

No apology necessary.

sar·casm
[ˈsärˌkazəm]

NOUN
  1. the use of irony to mock or convey contempt:
 
I have just skimmed this thread but I will say this. Anyone shipping a high value item (6k?) without a tracking device like air-tag or something similar is insane.
 
One more point that I have learned the hard way about UPS ( probably applies to all)

I had a package sitting for a week at a local UPS distribution center. I was sure it was lost. I finally call the UPS 800 number and escalated to a supervisor. She was in the Philippines and was able to see data that normal CS could not see. “Is that a rooster I hear crowing in the background??” “Yes we are working from home due to covid” Now I am picturing a lady with a cell phone and laptop in a grass hut. 🤠

She told me that the package (scope) was scanned in when they dropped the trailer at the yard. The package was not scanned in, the trailer was. She said that center was having labor issue and the package was still on the truck.

A few days later my scope was delivered.
 
  • Like
Reactions: W54/XM-388
I shipped an O8/15 Maxim machine gun to a dealer in Texas years ago and UPS shipped it to the north west sone where , forget exactly where , and couldn’t find it for two weeks. Pissed of i told there rep. I was reporting them to ATF for possession of unregistered machine gun. Guess what the next day it showed up at the dealers store. F.M. ( FUCKING MAGIC )
 
Again you have no clue how things actually work other than let's be a raging asshole from the get go.
You have a huge long window to ask your credit card company for help if things can't be worked out eventually.

Filing a dispute the moment something is a bit late or missing in transit rather than waiting to see if it shows back up in a week or two, simply makes you an asshole and messes up the whole process and actually makes it much harder for the seller to resolve the matter for you.
It's a ton more paperwork and you then can't actually do any proper resolutions, you just have to wait for some indians somewhere to get around to it on their schedule.

But sure you are one of those entitled assholes that have zero patience and just want to screw everyone as fast and hard as you can.
You do you, in the end sure you'll get your money back the same way as if you were a decent person, but good luck getting the product even if the carrier finds it, the shipper will probably demand the package goes straight back to them and not get delivered and you can have your stupid money back and they'll deal with someone else next time who's not a raging asshole.

For example, the second to last time I ordered some electronics, it made it to the Fedex hub then vanished. Did I freak out and file some false or crazy claim with my credit card company? No, I contacted the seller, they asked me to wait for a bit over a week while the trace was being processed by the carrier to determine if it could be found, then I called back after the date they gave me and checked on it saw the trace closed, and they then promptly sent out a replacement.

Other times I ship something to someone and due to storms or sort issues or going on a wrong truck, it may not show any tracking for some time, so I tell the recipient that we'll file a trace and if it doesn't show back up in the next week or such we'll get it taken care of for them.

People like you are why we run a very strict zero tolerance policy at our company. You be a raging asshole one time, you do a credit card dispute one time, your account is terminated for good.
Plenty of decent, intelligent folks who understand how things go, no need to deal with an asshole ever again.

Thanks for your posts, it is timely advice. I have some parts from Aero Precision that show arrived at my local FedEx facility on Sunday and nothing since. The truck has dropped packages at my neighbors all week, but nothing for me and now it is Thursday. I was wondering if I should try to track it down by calling fedex, but sounds like it would be best to call Aero.

EDIT TO ADD: I just called Aero, they were super cool and said exactly the stuff you said. They start the trace process, will take a little bit but if I don't get my parts the end result is they refund or replace.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: W54/XM-388
UPS thefts are not new, why do you think they started the 2-day shipment requirement for handguns? Yes, they were losing way too many.

About 2 years ago, I ordered a new barrel blank. We were able to trace it to the local distribution center then it evaporated. Filed MULTIPLE claims with UPS, a useless waste of time which only raised my bloodpressure. Went to the vendor, they supplied a replacement. A full year later the original barrel showed up!

I was sure someone had 5-fingered it...

Just curious, when the second barrel showed up, did you ship it back to the seller or call them and ask them if UPS had paid them for it or if they were out the money & would like it back / like it paid for if you wanted to keep it?